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Research Links Pesticides to Nerve Cell Damage and Parkinson's Disease
(Beyond Pesticides, November 10, 2003) New research out of
Emory University's Collaborative Center for Parkinson's Disease Environmental
Research, presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans
on Saturday, Nov. 8, finds that commonly used pesticides are toxic to
the mitochondria of cells, an effect linked to Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease, which is one of the most common neurodegenerative
diseases, has been associated with abnormalities of mitochondria, which
are the "power plants" that provide all cells with energy.

This new study adds
to the significant body of scientific evidence that has repeatedly linked
pesticide exposure to Parkinson's disease. Previous
studies have shown that those who use pesticides have a 3.5 to 4
times greater chance of developing Parkinson's disease than those with
no history of pesticide use.

According to a press
release issued by Emory University Health Sciences Center, "In
the new study, the Emory scientists exposed human neuroblastoma cells
to the pesticides rotenone, pyridaben, fenazaquin, and fenpyroximate,
all of which inhibit complex I. Pyridaben was by far the most potent
toxic compound, followed by rotenone and fenpyroximate, with fenazaquin
being the least toxic. Pyridaben was also more potent than rotenone
in producing "free radicals" and oxidative damage to the cells,
both of which are thought to be important in causing Parkinson's disease."
Emory scientists cite the fact that the pesticide rotenone
had already been linked to mitochondria toxicity and the development
of Parkinson's disease.

"These results
show that commonly used pesticides are toxic to cells, and may cause
the kinds of cellular damage that lead to diseases such as Parkinson's,"
Emory researcher Todd Sherer, Ph.D., says. "Although our study
does not prove that any particular pesticide causes Parkinson's, it
does lead to more questions about the safety of chronic exposure to
these environmental agents and certainly warrants additional research."

The research was
led by Emory neurologists Tim Greenamyre, M.D., Ph.D and Todd Sherer,
Ph.D, in association with Emory scientists Gary W. Miller, Ph.D, associate
professor in Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, and neurologists
Alexander Panov, Ph.D and Jason Richardson, Ph.D.